Gold was steady on Tuesday amid simmering U.S.-China trade tensions after a new set of tariffs came into effect, while investors stuck to the sidelines ahead of a U.S. Federal Reserve meeting.

Spot gold was barely changed at $1,198.28 by 0056 GMT. U.S. gold futures were down 0.2 percent at $1,202.60 an ounce.

Investors await details from the two-day Federal Reserve meeting beginning on Tuesday, when the U.S. central bank is expected to raise benchmark interest rates and shed light on the path for future rate hikes.

Higher U.S. interest rates typically pressure gold, since it costs to store and insure, but does not pay interest.

The United States and China imposed fresh tariffs on each other™s goods as the world™s biggest economies showed no signs of backing down from a trade dispute that is expected to knock global economic growth.

Although gold is generally considered to be a safe-haven asset, the months-long trade rift between Washington and Beijing has instead prompted investors to buy U.S. dollars in the belief that the United States has less to lose from the dispute.

China Stocks Lower At Close Of Trade; Shanghai Composite Down 1.05%

Wednesday, 19 December 2018 14:52 WIB
China stocks were lower after the close on Wednesday, as losses in the Oil Equipment Services & Distribution, Software & Computer Services and Technology sectors led shares lower.
At the close in Shanghai, the Shanghai Composite lost 1.05%...